Lilongwe: Nearly created whole in the late 1960s and early 1970s to become the country's new capital in 1975, Lilongwe is a sprawling place with limited interest for travellers. This means there are an awful lot of awful modern administrative buildings in what's referred to variously as the New City or City Centre. The Old Town, a few kilometres to the southwest, where you'll find the market, several restaurants and cafes, the bus station - at the heart of Old Town is the market, which is jammed with stalls selling everything from pots and pans, car and bike parts, empty plastic containers, fruit, vegetables, toothpaste, live chickens and dried fish.

Blantyre: The largest urban area in Malawi, is the country’s commercial capital. Blantyre has its origins with the Scottish missionaries from the time of David Livingstone. (It is named after Livingstone’s birthplace in Scotland.) Today it is unquestionably the centre of Malawi’s industry and commerce. Visits can also be made to the Museum of Malawi and Carlsberg Brewery, as well as the tobacco auction floors on the edge of Limbe. A good range of shops, markets and services. Blantyre has its own international airport at Chileka

Lake Malawi: occupies one fifth of the country’s total area and is the third largest lake in Africa. Its approximate dimensions are 590 km top to bottom and 85 km across. Surprisingly, only one river, the Shire River flows from it. For much of the year the Lake is placid, a gentle giant, but when strong winds and storms blowing north or south, an angry monster will arise. Fishing villages are scattered along the length of the lakeshore and the traditional industry and practices are an attraction to visitors.

Nkhata Bay: Malawi's most scenic lakeside town. A bustling market and good opportunities for diving in Lake Malawi and birding in nearby Kalwe Forest, just outside of town. Nkhata Bay spreads around a large lake inlet, about 50km east of Mzuzu and 270km north of Lilongwe. It's a regular stop on the Lake Malawi steamer.

Liwonde National Park: Liwonde National Park is well-managed with a good stock of game and beautiful scenery. Lying south of Lake Malawi, it includes part of Lake Malombe and the Shire River. Hippos and crocodiles are found in the Shire, elephants, several species of antelope and a pair of re-introduced rhinos. Most of the game can be seen in the northern part of the park. There's also great birdlife. The park is located 205km (130mi) southeast of Lilongwe.

Mount Mulanje: Mt Mulanje is a fine hiking and trekking area. The mountain rises steeply and suddenly from the undulating plain to the highlands, surrounded by near-vertical cliffs of bare rock, many over 1000m (3280ft) high. Mulanje's peaks (including the highest in the country, Sapitwa, at just over 3000m/9840ft) often jut above the mist that frequently surrounds the upper slopes, giving the mountain one of its local names, 'Island in the Sky.' You can reach most of the peaks without resorting to technical climbing.

Nyika National Park: The Nyika Plateau, averaging about 2000m (6560ft) above sea level, are covered with a mix of mopane grassland and mimbo woodland, other areas are covered in dense evergreen forests, and there are pockets of damp grassy bog. The park is famous for its wildflowers (including 120 species of orchid), a broad array of wildlife. Most common are the roan antelope, reedbuck, zebra, warthog, blue monkey (in the woodlands) and over 250 species of bird.

Chizumulu and Likoma Islands: The islands of Chizumulu and Likoma are both fairly low-key places to unwind and take in the spare beauty of the surroundings. Likoma, the larger of the two, does have some excellent beaches and snorkelling, with baobab trees scattered about. It's a densely populated place, with 6000 people packed into 17 sq km (7 sq mi). The Anglican Cathedral of St Peter shouldn't be missed (it's kept locked unless services are on). The market is unusually neat. Chizumulu is less populated and the snorkelling's better. It makes a good getaway, though the dhow ferry between the islands is a very choppy ride when the wind is blowing.

Mwabvi Game Reserve: Mwabvi is the Malawi's smallest (under 350 sq km/) and least-visited reserve. It's virtually a wilderness, with a landscape of sandstone ridges, rocky gorges, fast-flowing streams and mopane woodland. The scenery has spectacular views over the Shire and Zambezi Rivers. The gate is reached from the main road between Chikwawa and Nsanje.